Congress seeks border deal, Trump goes to El Paso

The last shutdown cost the economy $11 billion, according to a recent analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. That figure reflects lost output from federal workers, delayed government spending and reduced demand. The report estimated a hit of $3 billion, or 0.1 percent, to economic activity during the fourth quarter of 2018.

Democrats have offered $1.3 billion to $2 billion for physical barriers that Trump has demanded to secure the border from an influx of migrants, according to a Democratic source. In return, they wanted to cap the number of ICE detention beds for interior enforcement at 16,500. Currently there are about 20,700 beds.

Republicans have rejected that idea. Trump appeared to cite the proposal in contending Monday that “the Democrats do not want us to detain, or send back, criminal aliens!”

Currently, ICE interior enforcement covers undocumented immigrants who are criminals detained at places other than the border, as well as undocumented immigrants who are detained but are not criminals.

Congressional Democrats argue that limiting beds forces ICE to focus on criminals, not just illegal immigration. However, Republicans say there are no reliable numbers on how many illegal immigrants are criminals, so they cannot support a cap. The difference has created the stalemate.

Speaking to reporters Monday, Immigration and Customs Enforcement deputy director Matt Albence argued the caps were “artificial” and “extremely damaging to the public safety of this country.” He noted that the White House asked for 52,000 total detention beds in its most recent budget proposal. The Democrats’ proposal is only for interior detention.

Rep. Mark Walker of North Carolina, former head of the Republican Study Committee, said he could support a higher cap on detention beds but did not provide a number. He called the Democrats’ proposal a “curveball” and left open the possibility that the impasse could lead to shutdown.

“I always want to keep the government open. That should be your go-to position,” he said. “But we have to put everything on the table.”

As for the meeting among top negotiators from both parties this afternoon, Walker said it’s time to “put up or shut up.”

By the middle of the week, “things are going to get loose,” he said. “And I think the president will do what he needs to do.”

A potential solution would be a short-term continuing resolution to fund the government. However, neither party feels like a temporary spending measure would resolve the problem, and both appear reluctant to support the idea for now.

As Congress struggles to find common ground, Trump has threatened to declare a national emergency to divert funds for a wall without congressional approval. Even many Republicans have worried Trump would set a dangerous precedent by taking that step.

Still, Trump has repeatedly argued he has the authority to do so. In one tweet Sunday, the president cited comments from Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., arguing for the legality of a national emergency.

The bottom line, according to the Democratic source, is that prospects for a border security breakthrough currently seem bleak and, when the current agreement lapses at the end of the week, America could face another shutdown.